Milan Fashion Week Highlights AW18

In light of recent turbulent times and fashion racing faster than ever, AW18 it set to be the most futuristic yet. Laminated raincoats, metallic hued pants and glitter ball dresses were all apparent at the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Genny and Marni. Creative director, Francesco Risso paid homage to the industry's over-production at the Marni show. Spectators were sat amongst garbage and bundles of unused clothes - a symbolic message of, ‘today’s news will be tomorrow’s chip paper’.

While, American designer Tommy Hilfiger kept his foot firmly on the accelerator. Teaming up with supermodel Gigi Hadid, the duo created an F1 inspired show to close fashion week in the Italian city. Appealing to the world’s desire for ‘immediate gratification’, Hilfiger creeps into pole position in the see-now, buy-now model. His latest collection featured racing stripes, biker shorts, helmets and visors decorated with the chequered flag - it’s no surprise F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton was sat front row.

Bizarre Accessories

Weirdness has become inescapable on and off the catwalks - leaving us all with the unanswered question of, what next? Well, a number of designers surprised their audiences with unusual accessories that consisted of reptiles and puppies.

Gucci’s Alessandro Michele describes his latest collection as a representation of a creative process - a dissection for want of a better word. While his choice of alarming severed heads carried by a select few models; a token to millennial’s struggle with ‘finding an identity and looking after your own thoughts first’.

Tod’s opened with Gigi Hadid snuggled in shearling layers and lux leather with a French-bulldog in her arm - the model's younger sister Bella Hadid followed suit shortly after. The furry friends depict the next season to be a trend of carrying anything other than your handbag, while famed fashion house Dolce & Gabbana had their purses hung from drones to open the show.

Miuccia Prada took a trip down memory lane with nostalgic tweeds, boxy parkas and highlighter brights while models paved way to Blondie. The designer joked this was her ‘little revenge on the art world’, a space in which designers too can occupy, while the political message was to convey the relationship between strength and self-protection in women. Utilitarian workwear, tulle and oversized nylon dominated the neo-vintage collection. Much like fashion during the 80s, clothing went to extremes of large shoulders, big hair and a rainbow of colour, and Prada’s latest collection tells the same story of ‘exaggerated freedom’.

Throw back Thursdays aren't just a hashtag for Instagram, Emilio Pucci pulled his inspiration from the 70s archive with Bvlgari, a unqiueness created by two Italian power houses. Marrying elegance with sport lux the iconic symbol of Marylin Monroe was apparent - a combination between high jewellery and heritage collections. Star and stripe earrings, colourful bracelets and innovative designs created a vibrant aesthetic representative of the 1970s era - the time in which Bvlgari opened its first store in New York.

Around the World

Meanwhile Giorgio Armani's show was of a different story, drawing in from Global inspiration he rebelled away from his signature blue and navy, and instead threw in cobalt blue and red. However coherent with his timeless silhouette, the tones, the intricate beading details, textured bag finishes and woven boots are only designs a travelling creative could master.